International brain awareness week 2023 in Uruguaiana, Brazil: Promoting neuroscience through community activities
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Neuroscience, the study of the nervous system, is essential for understanding the human condition and informing societal decisions in healthcare, education and policymaking. The public’s interest in neuroscience highlights the need for effective scientific communication to bridge the gap between scientists and the public. This study describes the organisation, activities and evaluation of International Brain Awareness Week (IBAW) 2023 in Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is a municipality that borders Argentina, led by the Physiology Research Group (GPFis) and POPNeuro Program at the Federal University of Pampa, located in the same state. Activities included neuroanatomy exhibitions, a night race for brain health, lectures on ageing and public neuroscience demonstrations. Over 700 people participated, and feedback indicated high satisfaction and increased understanding of neuroscience. The study emphasises the importance of public engagement in science to promote critical thinking and informed decision-making. It also highlights how the main activity proposed by our group for IBAW – a neuroanatomy exhibition – received a positive response from the target audience (school students from the municipality of Uruguaiana), and how these activities contributed to strengthening university-community integration. Additionally, the closing event, a race, was among the most recommended activities for future editions.
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